Rangers delivered 52 verbal cautions and 19 fines – with seven for offences to do with dog ownership – in July.

‘‘Rangers don’t want to fine people, and in fact, the rangers issued eight cautions without fines to dog owners in July, only resorting to fines when owners continued to do the wrong thing,’’ the council’s manager of waste, health and regulatory services, John Cavanagh, said.

‘‘Given our population of almost 36,000 people, it is pleasing that we have such extremely low numbers of fines and cautions.

‘‘The vast majority of people in the Great Lakes do the right thing and enjoy a wonderful, clean environment and safe community.’’

Mr Cavanagh said dog ownership laws were in place for valid reasons: to keep the community safe and to maintain clean and healthy suburban areas and waterways.

Dog owners are required by law to microchip the animal by 12 weeks of age or at point of sale and register it by the age of six months.

While in public, a dog must be kept under ‘‘effective control’’ at all times by chain, cord or leash.

Even in leash-free areas, owners are still expected to have effective control of their dog.

All dog faeces are to be disposed of promptly and appropriately.

Council rangers will be checking dog registrations while walking the streets this month.